Device for initiating an authorization request for a vehicle

ABSTRACT

A device for initiating an authorization request for a vehicle includes a first switching arrangement, whose operation initiates an authorization request. The first switching arrangement is disposed in a recess of a door handle of the vehicle so that the recess houses a switching surface of the first switching arrangement.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for initiating anauthorization request for a vehicle.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

A safety device for motor vehicles is referred to in European PatentApplication No. 0 218 251. As referred to, a stationary transponderinstalled on the motor vehicle generates a question code signal based ona switching signal, which is generated using a manually operable switch.A portable transponder receives the question code signal and emits ananswer code signal in response. The motor vehicle can be unlocked whenthe answer code signal matches an expected code signal. The switch isoperated through the door handle of the motor vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventionfor initiating an authorization request for a vehicle has a firstswitching arrangement, the operation of which initiates an authorizationrequest. The first switching arrangement is disposed in a door handle ofthe vehicle. In addition, the device according to the present inventionincludes a recess housing a switching surface of the first switchingarrangement and is provided in the door handle. To initiate theauthorization request, it is not necessary to install a switch in thebody or the vehicle door. The release mechanism is integrated in thedoor handle. Thanks to the switching arrangement being accommodated in arecess, it is believed to be substantially protected from environmentalinfluences, such as freezing or intentional damage. Furthermore, it isbelieved that the device according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention offers increased protection against unintentional andinadvertent operation of the switch for initiating the authorizationrequest, since the recessed accommodation of the switching arrangementonly allows a switching function to be triggered in purposefuloperation. It is also possible to initiate the authorization request inthe case of fixed door handles.

In another exemplary embodiment, the recess is disposed on the sidefacing away from the vehicle. The first switching arrangement initiatesan authorization request for locking the vehicle. The user must operatethe first switching arrangement in the direction towards the vehicle, inorder to lock it. This moving direction corresponds to the one used forclosing the vehicle door. However, the side of the door handle facingthe vehicle is normally used to open the vehicle door. Therefore, theprobability of inadvertently operating the locking switch upon openingthe vehicle door is believed to be relatively small with the chosenstructural design of the door handle.

A further development provides a second switching arrangement, whoseoperation initiates an authorization request for unlocking the vehicle.To this end, an additional recess accommodating a switching surface ofthe second switching arrangement is integrated in the door handle. In astate of non-operation, this switching surface of the second switchingarrangement protrudes from the upper surface of the door handle. Theswitching surface is disposed on the side of the door handle facing thevehicle. The unlocking request is started by pulling on the door handleand actuating the switching surface in the same direction. Thisoperation of the switch corresponds to the usual sequence of movementsin opening the door.

Magnetic switches, e.g. Reed switches, may be used as a switchingarrangement. These are believed to have the advantage of not requiringclosed-circuit current. The permanent magnet triggering the Reed contactmay be disposed in the switching surface of the switching arrangement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary arrangement for initiating an authorizationrequest for a vehicle.

FIG. 2 shows a switching arrangement for use with the exemplaryarrangement of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows another exemplary switching arrangement for use with theexemplary arrangement of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary arrangement for initiating an authorizationrequest for a vehicle.

A power supply 20 supplies electricity to a first switching arrangement21 and a second switching means 22. Their output signals are coupled bydiodes and supplied to an authorization request block 10. Authorizationrequest 10 exchanges signals with a transmitting/receiving arrangement12, which communicates with a transponder 14 in a wireless manner. Theoutput signals of switching arrangement 21, 22 and an output signal ofauthorization request block 10 are supplied to door-lock electronics 16.Door-lock electronics 16 generate a control signal for a lock 18.

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a section through a door handle 24. The sideof door handle 24 facing away from the vehicle has a first rectangularrecess 26. A first switching surface 28 is housed in first recess 26,the former being movably supported with respect to door handle 24, bysprings 37. In an unactuated state, first switching surface 28 isarranged so as to be slightly recessed in relation to the upper surfaceof door handle 24. The first switching surface has a permanent magnet34, which operates a first Reed contact 31 in response to beingsufficiently close to it. This set-up constitutes first switchingarrangement 21. A rectangular, second recess 27 accommodating a secondswitching surface 29 is located on the side of door handle 24 facing thevehicle. The second switching surface contains a second permanent magnet35, and is movably supported with respect to door handle 24, by springs37. However, second switching surface 29 protrudes from the uppersurface of door handle 24, in the direction of the vehicle. A secondReed contact 32 is closed by pressing second switching surface 29. Thelast described set-up constitutes second switching arrangement 22. Thearrows indicate the actuating direction of both switching arrangement21, 22, which lead to authorization request 10 being triggered forlocking or unlocking the door, or lead to an already unlocked door beingdirectly opened by bypassing authorization request 10.

The exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3 only has first switchingarrangement 21 in door handle 24, the design of the first switchingarrangement being identical to that described in FIG. 2. Door handle 24is pivoted on one side. Switching arrangement 22, which is disposed inthe vehicle body, is controlled in response to operating door handle 24.

Operating first switching arrangement 21 initiates a locking or securingoperation of the vehicle, and operating second switching arrangement 22initiates an unlocking or opening operation of the vehicle. The userwould like to lock the vehicle after getting out of it. To this end, heor she actuates first switching arrangement 21 into its lockingposition. This connects authorization request 10 to the supply voltage.This signal change is interpreted as a desired start of authorizationrequest 10. It is recognized from the data communication betweentransmitting/receiving part 12 and transponder 14, whether or not thevehicle user operating first switching arrangement 21 is also actuallyauthorized to initiate a locking operation. For example, identificationprocedures used for this purpose fall back upon the so-called RollingCode Method or the so-called Challenge Response Method. Along theselines, authorization request 10 controls (causes) transmitting/receivingpart 12 to emit a question signal. Transponder 14 receives this questionsignal, ascertains the appropriate answer signal from it, and transmitsthe answer signal back to transmitting/receiving part 12. Authorizationrequest 10 compares the received answer signal with an expected setpointsignal. If the two are consistent, authorization request 10 recognizestransponder 14 as being authorized to lock the vehicle. An analogidentification procedure is used in unlocking the vehicle.

Locking electronics 16 generate the appropriate locking signals for lock18, when transponder 14 is recognized as being authorized.

A corresponding procedure is followed, when one wishes to unlock and/oropen the vehicle. Authorization request 10 is once again started byclosing second switch 22. When transponder 14 is authorized, lockingelectronics 16 generate the appropriate control signals for initiatingan unlocking and/or opening operation of lock 18 or the locking systemof the vehicle. According to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2,both switching arrangement 21, 22 are designed as Reed switches. A firstrecess 26 accommodating first switching surface 28 is provided on theside of door handle 24 facing away from the vehicle. In an unactuatedstate, the upper surface of first switching surface 28 is slightlyrecessed in comparison with the surrounding upper surface of door handle24. This can reduce the risk of unintentionally initiating a lockingoperation by inadvertently contacting first switching surface 28. Byactuating first switching surface 28 in the direction towards thevehicle, first Reed contact 31 is closed due to first permanent magnet34 approaching it. The previously described locking operation follows.After first switching surface 28 is actuated, springs 37 move it backinto the original position.

Second switching arrangement 22, which is used for initiating theunlocking and/or opening operation, is disposed on the inner side ofdoor handle 24 facing the vehicle. Second recess 27 houses secondswitching surface 29, which is constructed identically to firstswitching surface 28. However, second switching surface 29 protrudesfrom the upper surface of door handle 24 in the direction of thevehicle, when the second switching surface is in an idle state. SecondReed contact 32 is closed by actuating second switching surface 29 in adirection away from the vehicle. The unlocking and/or opening procedureis initiated in a previously described manner. In the exemplaryembodiment shown in FIG. 2, door handle 24 is fixed. This does not allowthe locking bolt to be mechanically actuated.

The vehicle is in an unlocked state, when authorization request 10 ispassed through successfully. If the user operates second switchingarrangement 22 one more time in the unlocked state, authorizationrequest 10 is not started again, but rather is bypassed to immediatelyopen the door.

On the other hand, door handle 24 of the exemplary embodiment shown inFIG. 3 is movably supported. First switching arrangement 21 is used toinitiate a locking operation, and conforms with first switchingarrangement 21 shown in FIG. 2. However, second switching arrangement 22is in the body or door of the vehicle. Second switching arrangement 22is closed in response to door handle 24 being actuated in a directionaway from the vehicle, and thereby initiates the previously describedunlocking and/or opening operation. Apart from actuating secondswitching arrangement 22, pulling door handle 24 moves the rotating boltof the door lock, via the mechanical coupling, to open the door.

Switches not having, or only having a small closed-circuit currentshould preferably be used as switching arrangement 21, 22. A Reed switchis indeed an option; however, capacitive, mechanical (microswitches),and magnetic (Hall) switches would also be possible.

In order to avoid discharging the vehicle battery when switchinqarrangement 21, 22 are actuated repeatedly, authorization request block10 can have a counter that is compared to a limiting value. Additionalauthorization requests 10 are no longer executed when the limiting valueis exceeded.

The devices according to the exemplary embodiments of the presentinventions may be used in keyless access systems for vehicles. However,they are not limited hereto.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for initiating an authorization requestfor use in a vehicle having a door handle, the device comprising: afirst switching arrangement, an actuation of which initiates anauthorization request, wherein the first switching arrangement isdisposed in a recess in the door handle of the vehicle so that therecess houses a switching surface of the first switching arrangement;wherein in an unactuated state of the first switching arrangement, theswitching surface of the first switching arrangement is recessedcompared to an upper surface of the door handle.
 2. The device of claim1, wherein the recess is disposed on a side of the door handle facingaway from the vehicle.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein theauthorization request is for locking the vehicle.
 4. The device of claim1, wherein another recess in the door handle houses another switchingsurface of the second switching arrangement, the another recess beingprovided on a side of the door handle facing the vehicle.
 5. The deviceof claim 1, wherein the first switching arrangement includes at leastone of a magnetic switch, a Reed switch, a capacitive switch, and amechanical switch.
 6. The device of claim 5, wherein a permanent magnetis disposed in the switching surface, the switching surface beingmovable relative to the door handle.
 7. The device of claim 1, furthercomprising: a second switching arrangement, wherein actuation of thesecond switching arrangement initiates another authorization request forunlocking the vehicle.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein in anunactuated state of the second switching arrangement, the anotherswitching surface extends above an upper surface of the door handle. 9.The device of claim 1, wherein the recess is disposed on a side of thedoor handle facing away from the vehicle, and the authorization requestis for locking the vehicle.
 10. The device of claim 1, wherein thesecond switching arrangement is actuated by moving the door handle. 11.The device of claim 1, wherein the authorization request is bypassed tocontrol a lock in response to an actuation of the second switchingarrangement.
 12. A device for initiating an authorization request foruse in a vehicle having a door handle, the device comprising: a firstswitching arrangement, an actuation of which initiates an authorizationrequest, wherein the first switching arrangement is disposed in a recessin the door handle of the vehicle so that the recess houses a switchingsurface of the first switching arrangement; and a second switchingarrangement, wherein actuation of the second switching arrangementinitiates another authorization request for unlocking the vehicle;wherein another recess in the door handle houses another switchingsurface of the second switching arrangement, the another recess beingprovided on a side of the door handle facing the vehicle.
 13. The deviceof claim 12, wherein in an unactuated state of the first switchingarrangement, the switching surface of the first switching arrangement isrecessed compared to an upper surface of the door handle.
 14. The deviceof claim 12, wherein in an unactuated state of the second switchingarrangement, the another switching surface extends above an uppersurface of the door handle.
 15. The device of claim 12, wherein thesecond switching arrangement is actuated by moving the door handle. 16.The device of claim 12, wherein the recess is disposed on a side of thedoor handle facing away from the vehicle.
 17. The device of claim 12,wherein the authorization request is for locking the vehicle.
 18. Thedevice of claim 12, wherein the first switching arrangement includes atleast one of a magnetic switch, a Reed switch, a capacitive switch, anda mechanical switch.
 19. The device of claim 18, wherein a permanentmagnet is disposed in the switching surface, the switching surface beingmovable relative to the door handle.
 20. A device for initiating anauthorization request for use in a vehicle having a door handle, thedevice comprising: a first switching arrangement, an actuation of whichinitiates an authorization request, wherein the first switchingarrangement is disposed in a recess in the door handle of the vehicle sothat the recess houses a switching surface of the first switchingarrangement; and a second switching arrangement, wherein actuation ofthe second switching arrangement initiates another authorization requestfor unlocking the vehicle; wherein the authorization request is bypassedto control a lock in response to an actuation of the second switchingarrangement.
 21. A device for initiating an authorization request foruse in a vehicle having a door handle, the device comprising: a firstswitching arrangement, an actuation of which initiates an authorizationrequest, wherein the first switching arrangement is disposed in a recessin the door handle of the vehicle so that the recess houses a switchingsurface of the first switching arrangement; and a second switchingarrangement, wherein actuation of the second switching arrangementinitiates another authorization request for unlocking the vehicle;wherein in an unactuated state of the first switching arrangement, theswitching surface of the first switching arrangement is recessedcompared to an upper surface of the door handle, wherein another recessin the door handle houses another switching surface of the secondswitching arrangement, the another recess being provided on a side ofthe door handle facing the vehicle, and wherein the recess is disposedon a side of the door handle facing away from the vehicle.
 22. Thedevice of claim 21, wherein in an unactuated state of the secondswitching arrangement, the another switching surface extends above anupper surface of the door handle.
 23. The device of claim 21, whereinthe first switching arrangement includes at least one of a magneticswitch, a Reed switch, a capacitive switch, and a mechanical switch. 24.The device of claim 21, wherein a permanent magnet is disposed in theswitching surface, the switching surface being movable relative to thedoor handle.
 25. The device of claim 21, wherein the second switchingarrangement is actuated by moving the door handle.
 26. The device ofclaim 21, wherein the authorization request is bypassed to control alock in response to an actuation of the second switching arrangement.